ONS figures published on 7 th May suggested that those from Black and Minority ethnic
groups were 4 times more likely to die from contracting coronavirus. As medical staff saw
this trend emerging it was brought to the attention of government and the media and these
statistics confirmed the disproportionate impact Covid 19 was having among these groups.
When information from medical professionals began to emerge early in the Coronavirus
crisis suggesting that BAME communities were at greater risk of death members of the
public and several MP’s demanded a response from the government. On 4 th May Matt
Hancock issued a statement that he had commissioned a report from Public Health England
into factors contributing to susceptibility to the virus. He stated “The more we know about
this virus and its impact, the more we will be able to protect lives and limit the spread”. PHE
findings were that ‘being black or from a minority ethnic background is a major risk factor.
This racial disparity holds even after accounting for the effects of age, deprivation, region or
sex’.
In his statement to parliament on 2 nd June Hancock suggested “there is work to do on what
we can do to close the gap”. It is clear from the data and the statement that government
were aware of the increased risk, as they were already from the previous published figures
and early accounts from NHS medical staff. So why were additional shielding measures and
advice not put in place either before or at this point to protect vulnerable workers and
particularly those working in close contact and confined spaces? Why didn’t ‘what we can
do’ translate into some actions or measures?
The investigation into the death of transport worker Belly Mujinga in April has highlighted
top down failures to protect such workers, even where multiple risk factors and underlying
health issues are present.
The PHE report in itself has been criticized by the Chairman of the The British Medical
Association (BMA), Dr Chaand Nagpaul, who dismissed it as a bland 'statistical analysis' which
offered no practical help to cut the devastating death rate.
The damning truth is that this Government, in line with it’s herd immunity strategy adopted
from the outset, has failed to act to protect the lives of it’s citizens. It has failed to issue
clear and reliable advice to institutions and individuals regarding safe working practices and
protective equipment. It has failed to provide adequate PPE to government institutions
such as NHS and transport services. It has failed to demand that PPE be issued by private
institutions to their workers. It failed to advise adequately regarding those with additional
risk factors even as these emerged through widely available published data. The truth that
these failures has disproportionately impacted those from BAME communities, particularly
those from African Caribbean backgrounds is written plainly and incontrovertibly in the facts
and data.
Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch has been tasked by Hancock to lead a further enquiry
inside government yet this is the minister who stood in parliament on 4 th June and stated in
defence of the government that "This is one of the best countries in the world to be a black
person" and that “this government has a record to be proud of”. With Badenoch leading
the enquiry what hope do BAME communities have of seeing a thorough unbiased enquiry
which will drive change?
Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbot has called for a public enquiry into
the issue. She is asking for the enquiry to consider all factors contributing to these deaths.
We support her stance on demanding answers on the over-representation of BAME people
in care work, transport and the NHS and in particular low income, low or zero hour roles
with little job security.
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, has said: “The
Government has consistently failed to take action to save BAME people’s lives during this
pandemic. Now is the time to take steps to tackle systemic racism, discrimination and
injustice in Britain.”
North Devon CLP echoes this view and believes the Government has not responded quickly
enough to available data in the midst of a national and global crisis and in doing so has
jeopardised the safety and lives of essential workers from BAME communities.
We support a public enquiry into disproportionate BAME deaths that is backed up with clear
actions to address societal inequalities moving forwards. The Coronavirus Pandemic is a
new crisis situation but the presence of BAME communities in our country is not new.
There is no excuse for those communities to find themselves, after generations, still
overrepresented in insecure work, poor housing, experiencing health inequalities and
undervalued and left vulnerable by the Government.
groups were 4 times more likely to die from contracting coronavirus. As medical staff saw
this trend emerging it was brought to the attention of government and the media and these
statistics confirmed the disproportionate impact Covid 19 was having among these groups.
When information from medical professionals began to emerge early in the Coronavirus
crisis suggesting that BAME communities were at greater risk of death members of the
public and several MP’s demanded a response from the government. On 4 th May Matt
Hancock issued a statement that he had commissioned a report from Public Health England
into factors contributing to susceptibility to the virus. He stated “The more we know about
this virus and its impact, the more we will be able to protect lives and limit the spread”. PHE
findings were that ‘being black or from a minority ethnic background is a major risk factor.
This racial disparity holds even after accounting for the effects of age, deprivation, region or
sex’.
In his statement to parliament on 2 nd June Hancock suggested “there is work to do on what
we can do to close the gap”. It is clear from the data and the statement that government
were aware of the increased risk, as they were already from the previous published figures
and early accounts from NHS medical staff. So why were additional shielding measures and
advice not put in place either before or at this point to protect vulnerable workers and
particularly those working in close contact and confined spaces? Why didn’t ‘what we can
do’ translate into some actions or measures?
The investigation into the death of transport worker Belly Mujinga in April has highlighted
top down failures to protect such workers, even where multiple risk factors and underlying
health issues are present.
The PHE report in itself has been criticized by the Chairman of the The British Medical
Association (BMA), Dr Chaand Nagpaul, who dismissed it as a bland 'statistical analysis' which
offered no practical help to cut the devastating death rate.
The damning truth is that this Government, in line with it’s herd immunity strategy adopted
from the outset, has failed to act to protect the lives of it’s citizens. It has failed to issue
clear and reliable advice to institutions and individuals regarding safe working practices and
protective equipment. It has failed to provide adequate PPE to government institutions
such as NHS and transport services. It has failed to demand that PPE be issued by private
institutions to their workers. It failed to advise adequately regarding those with additional
risk factors even as these emerged through widely available published data. The truth that
these failures has disproportionately impacted those from BAME communities, particularly
those from African Caribbean backgrounds is written plainly and incontrovertibly in the facts
and data.
Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch has been tasked by Hancock to lead a further enquiry
inside government yet this is the minister who stood in parliament on 4 th June and stated in
defence of the government that "This is one of the best countries in the world to be a black
person" and that “this government has a record to be proud of”. With Badenoch leading
the enquiry what hope do BAME communities have of seeing a thorough unbiased enquiry
which will drive change?
Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP Diane Abbot has called for a public enquiry into
the issue. She is asking for the enquiry to consider all factors contributing to these deaths.
We support her stance on demanding answers on the over-representation of BAME people
in care work, transport and the NHS and in particular low income, low or zero hour roles
with little job security.
Marsha de Cordova MP, Labour’s Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, has said: “The
Government has consistently failed to take action to save BAME people’s lives during this
pandemic. Now is the time to take steps to tackle systemic racism, discrimination and
injustice in Britain.”
North Devon CLP echoes this view and believes the Government has not responded quickly
enough to available data in the midst of a national and global crisis and in doing so has
jeopardised the safety and lives of essential workers from BAME communities.
We support a public enquiry into disproportionate BAME deaths that is backed up with clear
actions to address societal inequalities moving forwards. The Coronavirus Pandemic is a
new crisis situation but the presence of BAME communities in our country is not new.
There is no excuse for those communities to find themselves, after generations, still
overrepresented in insecure work, poor housing, experiencing health inequalities and
undervalued and left vulnerable by the Government.